Written Answers Thursday 10 November 2005

Scottish Executive

Access for People with Disabilities

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many fines have been issued for abuse of the Blue Badge scheme following the introduction of the right to inspect badges.

Cathy Jamieson: The information requested is not held centrally.

Alzheimer's Disease

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS Quality Improvement Scotland has made any recommendations for any particular drugs not to be used for the treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease on the NHS.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) provides a licence for any given medicine in the UK. This ensures that medicines meet acceptable standards on safety, quality and efficacy. The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) advises NHSScotland on the costs and benefits of new medicines after they have been licensed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency/European Medicines Evaluation Agency.

  Currently the Scottish Medicines Consortium does not recommend that Memantine (Ebixa ®) is used to treat moderately severe to severe Alzheimer’s Disease.

  In England, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published an appraisal consultation document entitled "Alzheimer’s disease - donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine and memantine". The consultation closed on 22 March 2005 and can be accessed at http://www.nice.org.uk/page.aspx?o=245912. The consultation document does not constitute the Institute’s formal guidance on these drugs and the recommendation made is preliminary and may change after the consultation.

  Once the final recommendation has been made NHS Quality Improvement Scotland will consider the implications of the guidance from NICE on these drugs for NHSScotland.

Anti-Social Behaviour

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many offenders in breach of anti-social behaviour orders have (a) been returned to court and (b) received sentences in the last 12 months, broken down by local authority area.

Cathy Jamieson: The latest available statistics on breaches of anti-social behaviour orders in the year ending March 2004 can be found at sections 5.9 to 5.15 of the relevant publication Use of Antisocial Behaviour Orders in Scotland on the Scottish Executive’s website at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/04/07104508/45091 .

  More recent statistics, from a survey covering the year ending March 2005, are currently being compiled and are planned for publication towards the end of this year.

Asylum Seekers

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive what protocol has been agreed with the Home Office in respect of the treatment of the children of refugees and asylum seekers resident in Scotland.

Robert Brown: Discussions with the Home Office on a protocol are on-going. Once the protocol is agreed ministers will report back to Parliament.

Biofuels

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-19408 by Tavish Scott on 5 October 2005 in which it is stated that there are no dedicated subsidies for the production of biofuels but that there are schemes that businesses who wish to invest in biofuel can apply to, whether it can give assurances that those businesses wishing to invest in biofuels and who apply to these schemes will be given priority, given that there are pressures on Scotland to conform to the standards set out in EU directive 2003/30/EC.

Tavish Scott: Regional Selective Assistance grants are available to all eligible businesses, and are not restricted to specific sectors, nor is priority given to specific sectors. In practice, all projects that the Scottish Executive considers meet in full the criteria of the scheme will be offered Regional Selective Assistance.

  In general, prospective entrepreneurs can get advice on, and access to, public sector business support from the Business Gateway. Support is provided through four core programmes (business information; business start-up; business growth, and business high growth) to those who meet the eligibility criteria.

  We are discussing with the Department for Transport the potential for other measures to deliver an increase in biofuels usage at a UK level. This includes consideration of a Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation as one potential measure to ensure the increased uptake of biofuels.

Care of Elderly People

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to take forward the recommendations of the Kerr report in respect of the care of frail older people.

Lewis Macdonald: Delivering for Health  (Bib. number 37847), The Scottish Executive’s response to the Kerr Report (Bib. number 36608), makes it clear that we now expect NHS boards and Regional Planning Groups to use the Kerr Report to drive their service improvement. The document contains timelines which set out the actions we now expect from the constituent parts of the NHS by particular dates.

  The Health Department’s new Delivery Group will monitor the full sets of commitments made in Delivering for Health and will publish progress reports.

Care of Elderly People

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to improve the delivery of health care to older people in remote and rural communities which are distant from hospital facilities.

Lewis Macdonald: Delivering for Health (Bib. number 37847) makes it clear that we will expand the range of services provided in the community. Patients will see more diagnosis, more day case surgery, more rehabilitation and more advice and outreach in the community.

  In 2006 we will develop a means of identifying those people who are at risk of hospitalisation, often older people, who would benefit from intensive, coordinated care in the community. We will ensure that it is provided in all parts of Scotland from the end of 2007.

Care of Elderly People

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how its response to the recommendations of the Kerr report will affect the way in which the needs of frail older people who are being cared for in the community will be monitored.

Lewis Macdonald: The needs of frail older people will continue to be assessed by GPs, health visitors, OTs and social workers as required. However Delivering for Health  (Bib. number 37847), the Scottish Executive’s response to the Kerr Report (Bib. number 36608), commits the Health Department to the development of a risk prediction tool by 2006 which will allow for the identification of those liable to hospitalisation. NHS boards will then be expected to provide comprehensive, integrated care for those with the most complex health care needs and greatest vulnerability to emergency hospital admission.

Carers

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it offers to local authorities regarding charging for respite care.

Lewis Macdonald: Scottish Office Circular SWSG 10/96 provides local authorities with guidance on how respite care should be developed and delivered. This includes guidance on charging. Further guidance that relates to charging for respite can be found in Circular SWSG 1/97 on Charging for Adult Non–Residential Sector Care; Circular CCD 2/2003 on the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002, and Circular 2/2005 on Charging for Residential Accommodation Guidance. These circulars are available on the internet at:

  
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library/swsg/contents.htm.
http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/sehd/ccd.asp.

Central Heating Programme

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many complaints it has received from interested parties regarding the performance and conduct of EAGA Partnership Ltd.

Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Eaga Partnership Ltd administers the central heating and Warm Deal programmes on behalf of Communities Scotland. Complaints received directly by Communities Scotland are dealt with as part of complaint handling arrangements in place between Eaga and Communities Scotland. These arrangements require Eaga to undertake investigations into complaints received and to report back on the outcome to Communities Scotland. Should the circumstances warrant it, independent scrutiny of the nature of the complaints can be undertaken. The following table shows the number of complaints received regarding Eaga Partnership Ltd, since the central heating programme began in September 2001 to October 2005.

  Number of Complaints Received Regarding Eaga Partnership September 2001 to October 2005:

  

Programme Year
No. of Complaints Received


2001-02
71


2002 -03
118


2003-04
137


2004-05
122


2005-06
49


Total
497

Children

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children were living in poverty in each (a) constituency and (b) local authority area in each of the last 30 years.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not available.

  The official source of low income data for Scotland is the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) dataset available from 1994-95. This is derived from the Family Resources Survey (FRS). The sample size of the FRS in Scotland is relatively small and can only be used to provide information for Scotland as a whole.

  The following link provides the latest low income headline figures for Scotland (2003-04), together with data for previous years. This was published on 30 March 2005: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/03/29170611/06123.

  A snapshot analysis of Benefits, such as Income Support and Job Seeker’s Allowance, may be used as a proxy for low income poverty by geographical area. Such analyses need careful interpretation, however as changes in the benefits system affect the results over time: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/tabtool.asp.

Children

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children were reported missing in each year since 1990, broken down by police force area.

Cathy Jamieson: This information is not collected centrally.

Dentistry

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many general dental practitioners have delivered NHS work for (a) adults and (b) children in each (i) NHS board and (ii) local authority area in each of the last three years, expressed also as a percentage of the total number of general dental practitioners in each case and showing year-on-year percentage changes and overall totals.

Lewis Macdonald: The information requested is provided in the tables: The number and percentage of GDPs that have delivered NHS work by NHS Board and Local Authority in the last three years, a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 37972).

Dentistry

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been deregistered from the NHS by general dental practitioners in each (a) NHS board and (b) local authority area in each of the last three years and in this year to date, expressed in each case as a percentage of all patients.

Lewis Macdonald: The information requested is provided in the tables: NHS patients whose registration status indicates "withdrawn", copies of which have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 37973).

Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many fines for dog fouling were issued in each local authority area in (a) 2001, (b) 2002, (c) 2003, (d) 2004 and (e) 2005.

Cathy Jamieson: The information available on court imposed fines is given in the table. The court proceedings statistics for 2004-05 are scheduled for publication in March 2006. The available information on fixed penalty notices issued by local authorities during the first year of the Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003 was given in reply to S2W-14542, answered on 9 March 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

  Persons Given a Court Fine for Dog Fouling Offences1, in Scottish Courts, 1999-2003

  

Local Authority Area2
2001
2002
20033


Angus 
-
1
-


Dumfries and Galloway
-
-
1


Dundee City 
6
2
1


East Lothian 
-
1
-


Glasgow City 
1
1
-


Highland 
-
1
-


Moray 
-
-
1


North Lanarkshire 
1
-
-


Scottish Borders 
-
-
1


South Lanarkshire 
-
1
-


West Dunbartonshire
-
1
-


Scotland
8
8
4



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. Incorporates an approximate mapping of sheriff courts into local authority areas. Some sheriff courts will deal with cases from more than one local authority area

  3. Includes estimated data.

Education

Bristow Muldoon (Livingston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on the recruitment and retention of science and maths teachers.

Peter Peacock: The Executive carries out an annual teacher workforce planning exercise that takes into account issues in the recruitment and retention of teachers.

  As part of the commitment to increase teacher numbers to 53,000 by 2007, recruitment to science and maths Postgraduate Certificate in Education courses have increased significantly compared to 2002-03.

Environment

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the results of its annual assessment of the level of problem posed by ragwort have been for each of the last five years for which this information is available.

Ross Finnie: The number of complaints made about ragwort in relation to the Weeds Act 1959 to the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department’s Area Offices in each of the last five years is shown in the following table. A complaint may relate to more than one site.

  

Year
Number of Complaints Received
Number of Sites Complained About


2005, as at 9 November
95
141


2004
35
51


2003
49
50


2002
41
41


2001
38
38



  Data for 2005 is complaints received by 9 November 2005. Data for previous years include all complaints about ragwort received during the full calendar year.

Environment

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcome has been of any radioactivity monitoring carried out in relation to issues other than the Chernobyl incident in the last six years.

Ross Finnie: Environmental monitoring for radioactivity is an operational matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). The results of this monitoring are published annually in the Radioactivity in Food and the Environment reports (RIFE). A copy of the RIFE report for 2004 can be seen on the SEPA website http://www.sepa.org.uk/pdf/publications/rife/rife10.pdf .

Ferry Services

Frances Curran (West of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with each of its departments’ policies in respect of public procurement processes and how it will ensure that the needs of local communities are taken into account in the development of such policies, in light of the recent decision to tender ferry services currently provided by Caledonian MacBrayne.

George Lyon: Responsibility for public procurement policies within the Scottish Executive rests with the Scottish Procurement Directorate as opposed to each individual department.

  The Scottish Public Finance Manual sets out a number of requirements in respect of procurement policy, including requirements that all procurement of goods and services should be based on value for money, having due regard for propriety and regularity.

  The specification of requirement would normally be designed to ensure that, where appropriate, the needs of the community are reflected. This would normally apply to service contracts. The Executive consulted widely on the draft service specification for the ferry services currently provided by Caledonian MacBrayne on the west coast. Some 705 responses were received. All of the points raised by the local island communities and other interest groups are being considered fully and will be factored into the final specification where possible.

Fertility Services

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive why 12 months has been selected as a prospective time limit for delivery of first infertility treatment for couples joining an NHS board waiting list, as stated in paragraph 6.5 of Review of Access Criteria for Infertility Services in Scotland .

Lewis Macdonald: The suggested time limit for delivery of the first infertility treatment within 12 months is designed to be challenging, but achievable across Scotland as a whole. As part of the consultation exercise launched on 8 September 2005, any comments respondents have on this suggested timescale would be welcome.

Fire Service

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) uniformed and (b) non-uniformed black and ethnic minority personnel are employed in the fire and rescue services in (i) retained posts, (ii) whole-time posts, (iii) emergency fire control rooms and (iv) volunteer and auxiliary posts.

Hugh Henry: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-20182 on 9 November 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Fire Service

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) uniformed and (b) non-uniformed lesbian, gay or transsexual personnel are employed in the fire and rescue services in (i) retained posts, (ii) whole-time posts, (iii) emergency fire control rooms and (iv) volunteer and auxiliary posts.

Hugh Henry: This information is not held centrally.

Fire Service

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures have been taken in respect of equality issues within the fire and rescue services.

Hugh Henry: Measures taken include:

  
The revision, and later repeal, of the regulations in respect of appointments and promotion, and the consequent facilitation of the Integrated Personal Development system and multi-tier entry to the Fire and Rescue Service.
Funding by the Scottish Executive of the Fire Fighter Development Programme which includes an equality module produced by HM Fire Services Inspectorate.
The production of guidance on disability discrimination issues by the Chief Fire Officers Association, working in partnership with the Disability Rights Commission and HM Fire Services Inspectorate.
The production of guidance on race equality issues, undertaken by HM Fire Services Inspectorate in partnership with the Commission for Racial Equality.
The production of guidance by HM Fire Services Inspectorate on Positive Action campaigns for recruitment.
The appointment to HM Fire Services Inspectorate of an equality, diversity and cultural change advisor to assist with the above tasks and the on-going inspection of fire and rescue services undertaken by the Inspectorate.
Funding by the Scottish Executive for a cultural audit to be undertaken across all eight fire and rescue services, the results of which will be available in the next few months and will form a basis for the preparation of action plans on equality and diversity issues.

Fire Service

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been recruited to the fire and rescue services under the new procedure of multi-tier entry and accelerated promotion, broken down by equality strand.

Hugh Henry: This is primarily a matter for fire and rescue authorities and joint fire and rescue boards. Procedures for promoting multi-tier entry to uniformed roles will be considered further once the change from a rank-based structure to a role-based structure (the Integrated Personal Development System) are completed, no later than the spring of 2006.

  HM Fire Services Inspectorate report that there has been a significant number of staff recruited into non-uniformed roles within the Fire and Rescue Service into non-operational positions which were historically occupied by uniformed staff. Further details are available on the Inspectorate’s website at www.scotland.gov.uk/hmifs.

  There is currently no specific procedure for accelerated promotion within the Fire and Rescue Service. However, it is open to staff to develop and compete for promotion to any role within the Integrated Personal Development System.

Fire Service

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected lifespan is of each emergency fire control room.

Hugh Henry: This information is not held centrally. The lifespan of control room equipment varies and will reflect periodic upgrading by individual fire and rescue authorities and joint fire and rescue boards in order to ensure that statutory and operational requirements are met.

Fire Service

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive who has been consulted as part of the further consultation on the future of emergency fire control rooms.

Hugh Henry: We have been undertaking further work in respect of the issues raised in response to the consultation exercise on this issue. Ministers are considering a number of options and I will report the conclusions to Parliament in due course, consulting other stakeholders as necessary.

Fire Service

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when each fire control room was last upgraded and what the expected lifespan of each upgrade was.

Hugh Henry: This information is not held centrally. Equipment required within a control room to discharge statutory and operational requirements is upgraded by individual fire and rescue authorities or joint fire and rescue boards as and when required, in order to maintain or enhance the ability to meet those requirements.

Fire Service

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive who advises it on fire service matters, following the abolition of the Scottish Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council.

Hugh Henry: In addition to consulting a wide range of stakeholders on specific fire and rescue service issues, the Scottish ministers have the benefit of advice prepared by HM Chief Inspector of Fire Services in Scotland.

  The Scottish Executive has consulted widely on proposals for a replacement advisory structure. In April 2005, we published the analysis report of the consultation responses. In the light of those responses, which generally supported two of the proposed six models for a new structure, we have been in discussion with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Chief Fire Officers Association on how they see the model favoured by the majority of respondents as working in practice. We will give consideration to the final proposals and will advise stakeholders of a decision in due course. In the meantime, we will continue to consult with a wide range of stakeholders on specific issues.

Fisheries

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, under the Interim Scheme for the Authorisation of Marine Fish Farms in Scottish Waters, the Crown Estate, as the relevant authority under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Fish Farming in Marine Waters) Regulations 1999, and competent authority under the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2004, is legally bound to approve planning recommendations made by (a) the Scottish Executive Inquiry Reporters Unit or (b) the relevant local authority.

Rhona Brankin: Whilst not legally bound to do so, I understand that the Crown Estate has made clear that it expects always, in accordance with the terms of the non-statutory Interim Scheme, to follow recommendations of the local authorities or the Scottish Executive Inquiry Reporters Unit reporter.

Fisheries

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it expects the Crown Estate or Crown Estate Commissioners under the Interim Scheme for the Authorisation of Marine Fish Farms in Scottish Waters to implement recommendations made by (a) the Scottish Executive Inquiry Reporters Unit or (b) the relevant local authority.

Rhona Brankin: Yes, under the terms of the agreed non-statutory scheme.

Fisheries

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed Sildarvinnslan fishmeal processing factory at Sella Ness accords with advice on blue whiting from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea and the long-term management plan agreed for the stock by the European Union, Faroe Islands, Iceland and Norway in 2002.

Ross Finnie: The currently agreed long-term management plan for the blue whiting stock sets an agreed target of maintaining a precautionary fishing mortality rate below F=0.32. The recent ICES advice notes that this target allows a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) of 1.5 million tonnes (mt) to be established for 2006. Neither the management plan nor the advice is concerned with capacity or location of processing facilities.

Fresh Talent Initiative

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-18125 and S2W-18859 by Mr Tom McCabe on 24 August and 26 September 2005 respectively, whether it has begun to compile information on the number of people applying for visas under the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme, both successfully and unsuccessfully; if so, whether this work is being carried out by the Scottish Executive, the Home Office or an external body and, if it is being carried out by an external body, which one.

Mr Tom McCabe: Information on the number of people applying for leave to enter or remain in the UK under the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme is being collated by the Home Office and UKVisas.

  The Home Office and UKVisas are passing details of all those who have been granted leave under the scheme to the Scottish Executive. This is to enable the Executive to contact participants at regular intervals as part of the monitoring and evaluation of the scheme.

Fresh Talent Initiative

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-18125 and S2W-18859 by Mr Tom McCabe on 24 August and 26 September 2005 respectively regarding the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme visas, how many individuals have successfully applied for such a visa and, of these, how many are now resident in Scotland and how many were resident (a) in Scotland and (b) overseas at the time of application, broken down by month of operation of the scheme.

Mr Tom McCabe: The following table shows the number of successful applications since the scheme went live on 22 June, broken down by those who applied from overseas and those who applied from within the UK. This data is based on internal management Information from the Home Office and UKVisas and is provisional and subject to change.

  

 
June and July
August
September
October
Total


Applications made Overseas 
23
28
21
 28
100


Applications made in the UK 
77
101
120
188
486



  Further information on successful applicants, including their current location, will be gathered through a questionnaire issued by the Relocation Advisory Service. This data will be published in due course.

Fresh Talent Initiative

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-18125 and S2W-18859 by Mr Tom McCabe on 24 August and 26 September 2005 respectively, on what date it will publish details of application numbers, origin of applicants, origin of applications and final location of applicants to the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme.

Mr Tom McCabe: Data on numbers of successful applicants has now been passed to the Scottish Executive from the Home Office and UKVisas. This shows that there have been a total of 586 successful applications to the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme since the scheme went live on 22 June 2005.

  The nationality of successful applicants is set out in the following table:

  

Country
Successful Applications


Albania
2


Angola
1


Argentina
1


Armenia
1


Bahrain
2


Bangladesh
6


Barbados
2


Brazil
1


British National (Overseas)
2


British Overseas Citizen
2


Brunei
1


Bulgaria
2


Cameroon
4


Canada
13


Chile
1


China (Peoples Republic of China)
125


Columbia
1


Croatia
1


Ecuador
2


Egypt
2


Ethiopia
22


Gambia
1


Ghana
11


Hong Kong SAR of China (Holder of Special Administrative Region Passport)
6


India
147


Japan
8


Jordan
1


Kenya
8


Korea (South)
1


Libya (Arab Republic)
3


Malawi
1


Malaysia
30


Mauritius
4


Mexico
1


Mongolia
1


Morocco
1


Nepal
7


Nigeria
44


Niger
1


Pakistan
23


Philippines
1


Romania
1


Russia
6


Sierra Leone
1


Singapore
5


South Africa
3


Sri Lanka
3


Swaziland
2


Syria
1


Taiwan
6


Tanzania
1


Trinidad and Tobago 
1


Turkey
1


Uganda
2


United States of America
47


Venezuela
3


Vietnam
1


Yugoslavia
1


Zimbabwe
7


Total
586



  Further information on successful applicants, including their current location, will be gathered through a questionnaire issued by the Relocation Advisory Service. This data will be published in due course.

H5N1 Influenza

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all NHS boards have sufficient stocks of respirators for use in the event of a serious outbreak of avian flu among humans.

Mr Andy Kerr: In the event of an outbreak of avian flu, respirators would be used as part of the protective clothing for people who came into very close contact with birds infected by avian influenza.

  The Scottish Executive is currently discussing with the relevant bodies what protection would be required in the event of an outbreak of human pandemic flu. The Scottish Executive has already distributed 45,000 Full-Face Protection 3 face masks to NHS boards, hospitals and GP practices throughout Scotland. The Scottish Ambulance Service has recently purchased masks for all of its ambulance staff.

H5N1 Influenza

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much the 270,000 doses of H5N1 strain vaccine which have been ordered will cost.

Mr Andy Kerr: This information is commercially confidential at this stage.

H5N1 Influenza

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what protection will be given to workers having to undertake culling, incineration and landfilling of birds as a result of any flu pandemic.

Mr Andy Kerr: Scotland’s Avian Influenza And Newcastle Disease Contingency Plan, which was published on 17 October 2005 and can be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/10/17113357/33579 ,

  sets out guidance for people who come into very close contact with birds infected by avian influenza and describes the support that would be given to those involved in disease control including the use of protective equipment.

H5N1 Influenza

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost estimates are for the procurement of vaccines to cover the Scottish population in preparation for a potential flu pandemic.

Mr Andy Kerr: Costs will be determined by the competitive procurement process for purchase of pandemic flu vaccines. Initial estimates are commercially confidential at this stage.

H5N1 Influenza

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the population will be covered by the current and planned stocks of Tamiflu.

Mr Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-19440 on 30 September 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

H5N1 Influenza

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many doses and courses of Tamiflu are in stock and how many have been ordered for Scotland.

Mr Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-19843 on 7 November 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Health

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the Kerr report’s conclusion that "Information and communications technology will give us the tools to fundamentally reshape how health care is delivered", what targets have to be met by the national information management and technology strategy in health care.

Mr Andy Kerr: A single electronic health record system accessible by patients and health care professionals will be procured over the period 2006-07 and rolled out across Scotland over the period 2007-10. The system will contain facilities for archiving and transmitting digital images such as x-rays and scans, electronic prescribing in hospitals, online diagnostic test ordering and clinical decision support.

  By June 2006:

  
A single national electronic "emergency care summary" will be available across Scotland available to out-of-hours doctors and NHS 24 in the first instance and thereafter to other health care professionals with the need to know.
A growing number of out-patient referrals will be sent electronically, currently 60% and expected to rise to 90%.
Use of the CHI number will be universal.


  Modern information support systems will also be in place in all accident and emergency departments to support our objectives for improvements to patient care in accident and emergency departments.

Health

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken any consultations with Glaxosmithkline plc with regard to the production of antivirals.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive has not consulted with Glaxosmithkline plc with regard to the production of antivirals. The Scottish Executive has taken action to make Tamiflu available in the event of an influenza pandemic - in line with guidance from the World Health Organization.

Health

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the new bacteriology department at Wishaw General Hospital is capable of accommodating the necessary equipment to enable the provision of a tuberculosis laboratory.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Clinical Laboratories at Wishaw General Hospital, which opened in May 2001, are capable of providing the facilities necessary for a Clinical Microbiology Service in a District General Hospital, including the initial culture facilities required at hospital level for investigations of tuberculosis. Tuberculosis laboratory services for Lanarkshire are provided at Hairmyres Hospital.

Health

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what provision there is for tuberculosis testing in each NHS board area.

Mr Andy Kerr: Each of the NHS boards offers screening tests for tuberculosis in the form of skin testing, with further investigations or laboratory testing of clinical samples undertaken as determined by national guidelines on this topic.

Higher Education

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to ensure that the European Institute for Technology is based in Scotland.

Allan Wilson: We shall consider what actions may be helpful in relation to the European Institute for Technology if the European Commission develops definite proposals for it, following the current consultation. I refer the member to the question S2W-19607 answered on 2 November 2005 which is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Historic Events

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to commemorate the 700th anniversary of the crowning of Robert the Bruce as King of Scots.

Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Executive would be happy to consider proposals to mark this anniversary.

Historic Events

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider supporting the Robert the Bruce Commemoration Trust.

Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Executive has not been approached for support by the Robert the Bruce Commemoration Trust.

Housing

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to address the affordability of home ownership for first-time buyers, in light of the figures released by the Council of Mortgage Lenders which show that the number of first-time buyers in Scotland has fallen from 50,000 in 2002 to 32,000 in 2004.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive recognises the difficulties faced by first-time buyers. We are investing £1.2 billion in affordable homes, for affordable rent and low cost home ownership (LCHO), over this and the next two years. This represents an 80% expansion in the LCHO programme, and will support the provision of nearly 5,000 homes for LCHO across Scotland by 2008.

  The Homestake shared equity scheme, launched in March 2005, is targeted at first time buyers. Within three years, we expect to fund 1,000 Homestake houses a year across Scotland, making affordable housing available to those on low to modest incomes who aspire to home ownership.

  The full extent of the Executive’s policies on affordable housing, including measures to assist first time buyers, is set out in our housing policy statement Homes for Scotland’s People, published in March this year. A copy is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 35778).

Identity Cards

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how the concept of the Scottish Citizens Account Smartcard differs from that of an entitlement card.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Citizen’s Account Smartcard is more commonly referred to as the national entitlement card; they are the same thing.

Identity Cards

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is still its position, as set out in the answer to question S2W-16503 by Mr Tom McCabe on 23 May 2005, that the entitlement card will not be linked to any national identity register or similar database.

Mr Tom McCabe: I can confirm that it is still the case, as stated in my answer to S2W-16503, that the Executive has no plans to link the entitlement card to any national identity register or similar database.

Identity Cards

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a citizen’s account number could be stored on the UK National Identity Register under clause 4(1)(b) of Schedule 1 of the Identity Cards Bill.

Mr Tom McCabe: As Schedule 1 of the Identity Cards Bill stands at present, this would not be possible. Clause 4(1)(b) of Schedule 1 refers to "the number of any ID card issued to him", and "ID card" is defined at Section 43 of the bill as meaning a card issued under the identity card scheme as specified by Section 8(1) of the bill.

  The bill allows for Schedule 1 to be amended via secondary legislation. However, we are not aware of any plans to seek to do so in the foreseeable future.

Identity Cards

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is still its position, as set out in the answer to question S2W-16501 by Mr Tom McCabe on 23 May 2005, that no-one will be denied access to the services that they are entitled to because they do not have an entitlement card and whether the same position would apply to any citizen’s account card.

Mr Tom McCabe: I can confirm that it is still the case, as stated in my answer to S2W-16501, that no-one will be denied access to the services that they are entitled to because they do not have a citizen’s account card (national entitlement card).

Identity Cards

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether citizen’s accounts will exist only for those individuals who have chosen to apply for an entitlement card or for all citizens in Scotland.

Mr Tom McCabe: Citizen’s accounts containing basic, non-transactional information will be created for all citizens in Scotland. However, each account will only be enabled and used with the informed consent of the citizen. This is the point at which transactional data will be generated in respect of the different services that a person uses or is entitled to.

  The citizen’s account will support a number of local and national entitlements, with the first national entitlement being the Scotland-wide free bus scheme in April 2006.

Identity Cards

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has discussed with the UK Government whether teachers, child care workers and convicted criminals will be required to hold an identity card in Scotland before it becomes compulsory for all other Scottish citizens.

Mr Tom McCabe: No such specific discussions have taken place.

  We shall remain in close communication with the Government about any implications that the identity card scheme may have for people living in Scotland, including in the event that the Government pursues plans to introduce a link between identity cards and other official government documents.

Immigration

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what strategy it has to support children of migrant workers.

Robert Brown: The children of migrant workers are entitled to the same levels of education, health care and social support from local authorities and NHS boards as the children of our indigenous population.

  The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 requires education authorities to identify, meet and keep under review the additional support needs of all pupils, including those for whom English is an additional language. The act also introduces a new framework for collaboration between schools and other agencies to ensure that all the needs of the individual child are met. For 2005-06, we are providing £9.5 million to support implementation of the act, £25 million to support the inclusion of pupils with additional support needs in mainstream schools and £7.2 million for specific staff training around additional support needs.

  The Executive has commissioned the Scottish English as an Additional Language Co-ordinating Council (SEALCC) and the Centre for Education for Racial Equality in Scotland to produce a document on good practice for teaching pupils who have English as an additional language. This document will be published early next year. The Executive has already published an Education Guide for Asylum Seekers which may also be of use to migrant workers and their families. Our Relocation Advisory Service also provides information on education and child care opportunities to families who are considering relocating to Scotland.

Justice

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were stopped for not wearing their seat belts in each of the last five years, broken down by police force area, and what type of fine was imposed upon each individual.

Cathy Jamieson: The available information is given in the tables. The court proceedings statistics for 2004-05 are scheduled for publication in March 2006.

  The statistics dealing with recorded crime and court proceedings are not directly comparable as a person may be proceeded against for more than one crime involving more than one victim and there is the possibility that the crime recorded by the police may be altered in the course of judicial proceedings. Also a crime may be recorded by the police in one year and court proceedings concluded in a subsequent year.

  Number of Seat Belt Offences Recorded by the Police, 2000-04

  

Police Force Area
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004


Central
2,286
2,581
2,435
2,548
2,547


Dumfries and Galloway
531
282
344
385
349


Fife
3,226
3,012
2,205
2,710
2,552


Grampian
2,645
1,975
1,919
517
513


Lothian and Borders
6,732
7,394
6,679
5,216
5,851


Northern
1,486
1,098
1,407
1,246
1,135


Strathclyde
17,952
22,013
13,552
11,222
10,635


Tayside
1,318
1,647
2,472
4,005
5,837


Scotland
36,176
40,002
31,013
27,849
29,419



  Seat Belt Offences Resulting in a Fine Imposed by a Scottish Court, 1999-2003

  

Police Force Area
1999
2000
2001
2002
20031


Number of Offences


Central 
168
332
272
324
228


Dumfries and Galloway
60
15
4
12
12


Fife 
181
172
146
135
207


Grampian 
324
280
202
175
135


Lothian and Borders 
446
447
320
273
322


Northern 
88
93
104
75
68


Strathclyde 
1,240
1,134
1,000
1,012
730


Tayside 
290
139
118
151
315


Scotland
2,797
2,612
2,166
2,157
2,017


Average Fine Imposed (£)2


Central 
39
45
53
59
59


Dumfries and Galloway
82
43
43
63
51


Fife 
48
44
47
51
49


Grampian 
40
46
50
52
62


Lothian and Borders 
45
48
54
59
57


Northern 
41
40
47
52
54


Strathclyde 
44
44
49
50
52


Tayside 
55
51
55
59
58


Scotland
45
46
50
54
55



  Notes:

  1. Includes estimated data.

  2. Excludes fines where value not known.

Justice

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) recorded cases of, (b) prosecutions for and (c) convictions for (i) rape, (ii) assault with intent to rape and (iii) indecent assault took place in each of the last five years.

Cathy Jamieson: The available information is given in the following tables. The court proceedings statistics for 2004-05 are scheduled for publication in March 2006.

  The statistics dealing with recorded crime and court proceedings are not directly comparable as a person may be proceeded against for more than one crime involving more than one victim and there is the possibility that the crime recorded by the police may be altered in the course of judicial proceedings. Also a crime may be recorded by the police in one year and court proceedings concluded in a subsequent year.

  Number of Crimes Recorded by the Police, 2000-04

  

Crime
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004


Rape
562
589
745
794
892


Assault with intent to rape
143
164
168
194
215


Indecent assault
1,117
1,154
1,337
1,418
1,455



  Number of Persons Proceeded Against in Scottish Courts for Selected Crimes1, 2000-03

  

Crime
2000
2001
2002
20032


Number proceeded against


Rape 
51
67
49
83


Assault with intent to rape 
23
36
19
26


Indecent assault 
99
73
72
101


Number with a charge proved


Rape 
28
42
29
44


Assault with intent to rape 
15
27
13
18


Indecent assault 
66
52
56
82



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. Includes estimated data.

Justice

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were fined for offences directly relating to the improper use of (a) disabled vehicle stickers and (b) disabled parking spaces in each of the last five years.

Cathy Jamieson: The information requested is not held centrally.

Justice

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many fines for littering were issued in each local authority area in (a) 2001, (b) 2002, (c) 2003, (d) 2004 and (e) 2005.

Cathy Jamieson: The available information is given in the following table. The court proceedings statistics for 2004-05 are scheduled for publication in March 2006.

  Persons Fined in Scottish Courts for Litter Offences1, 2001-03

  

Local Authority Area
2001
2002
20032


Aberdeenshire 
-
-
1


Angus 
4
-
-


Dumfries and Galloway
-
-
1


Dundee City 
1
4
3


East Ayrshire 
2
1
-


East Dunbartonshire
-
2
-


Edinburgh, City of 
1
1
-


Falkirk 
1
-
1


Glasgow City 
3
2
4


Highland 
1
1
-


Inverclyde 
1
3
-


North Ayrshire 
1
1
-


North Lanarkshire 
3
1
9


Renfrewshire 
-
1
-


Scottish Borders 
-
1
1


South Ayrshire 
2
1
4


South Lanarkshire 
2
7
7


Stirling 
-
2
-


West Lothian 
-
-
1


Scotland
22
28
32



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence was categorised as a litter offence under the Scottish Executive Justice Department’s classification of crimes and offences.

  2. Includes estimated data.

Justice

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were convicted of (a) drunkenness, (b) driving after consuming alcohol or taking drugs and (c) causing death by dangerous driving when under the influence of drink or drugs in each year since 1995, broken down by police force area.

Cathy Jamieson: The available information is given in the following table. The statistics for 2004-05 are scheduled for publication in March 2006.

  Persons with a Charge Proved for Selected Offences1, by Police Force Area, 1995-2003

  

Police Force Area
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
20032


Drunkenness 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Central 
59
34
22
12
6
7
2
4
4


Dumfries and Galloway
50
46
21
-
3
-
-
-
1


Fife 
40
19
18
8
7
2
5
3
10


Grampian 
47
40
39
38
22
22
13
8
17


Lothian and Borders 
70
33
51
41
20
18
26
28
22


Northern 
289
231
246
224
159
138
104
140
135


Strathclyde 
745
690
514
383
246
227
191
184
203


Tayside 
13
10
17
19
15
20
30
17
19


Total
1,313
1,103
928
725
478
434
371
384
411


Drunk Driving 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Central 
397
411
424
383
371
393
298
640
537


Dumfries and Galloway
194
263
214
189
205
166
210
214
234


Fife 
492
414
488
424
376
360
369
708
583


Grampian 
947
908
948
895
840
784
811
920
1,012


Lothian and Borders 
1,272
1,359
1,437
1,366
1,188
1,122
1,171
1,495
1,381


Northern 
636
688
645
544
533
499
568
679
715


Strathclyde 
3,088
3,432
3,710
2,869
2,830
2,784
2,725
3,430
3,017


Tayside 
569
590
653
617
556
583
640
768
801


Total
7,595
8,065
8,519
7,287
6,899
6,691
6,792
8,854
8,280


Death by Careless Driving when Under the Influence of Drink or Drugs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Central 
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-


Fife 
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
1


Grampian 
1
-
2
1
1
-
1
1
-


Northern 
-
-
1
1
-
1
-
-
1


Strathclyde 
1
-
1
-
-
-
1
-
-


Tayside 
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-


Total
2
-
4
3
1
2
3
1
2



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. Includes estimated data.

Justice

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (IND): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases were dropped in each sheriff court in each year since 1999, broken down by category of crime or offence.

Colin Boyd QC: The information requested is not available. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s Case Management Database records details of the charges against each accused in terms of the specific common law or statutory offence that is alleged to have been committed. There are over 3,000 separate charge codes in use at present. These charge codes are not routinely categorised into broader categories of offence.

  Information is collected regularly about cases in which a decision is made that there should be "No Further Proceedings". This information does not, however, distinguish between cases where the original decision was to initiate proceedings in the Sheriff court, cases where the original decision was to initiate proceedings in another court and cases where the original decision was to pursue a non-court disposal such as a Fiscal Fine.

  Regularly updated statistics on case processing are available on the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s website www.copfs.gov.uk/About/corporate-info/Caseproclast5.

Legislation

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all changes to legislation that have followed the incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights into Scots law.

Hugh Henry: Since the Scotland Act came into force on 1 July 1999 all legislation enacted by the Scottish Parliament has required to comply with the convention rights as defined in the Human Rights Act 1998, and members of the Scottish Executive have had no power to make subordinate legislation or do any other act that would be incompatible with the convention rights. The convention rights are therefore taken into account in the preparation of all primary and secondary legislation within devolved competence. The Scottish Executive does not possess a comprehensive list of all legislative provisions applicable to Scotland that have been enacted specifically as a consequence of incorporation of the convention into Scots law, and such a list could only be produced at disproportionate cost.

Licensing (Scotland) Bill

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to make the provisions of the Licensing (Scotland) Bill apply equally to off-sales and on-sales premises.

George Lyon: The provisions of the Licensing (Scotland) Bill will apply equally to all premises, except where the provision is specifically drafted to apply to only on-sale or off-sale premises.

Local Government

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what communications it has had with COSLA and individual local authorities about the implementation of single status agreements.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Executive has received a number of written communications from individual local authorities on the subject of the implementation of the single status pay agreement. The issue has also been raised in the course of discussions that have taken place between COSLA and the Executive.

  However, it remains the case that the pay and conditions of local government staff are matters for local authorities. Although the Executive provides funding for salaries and wages as part of the block grant provided to local authorities, it is the responsibility of each authority as to how this money is allocated. The Executive was not involved in the negotiations between COSLA and the trade unions which resulted in single status pay agreement in 1999. In implementing the agreement, the Executive has made clear its view that local authorities should strike a balance between what is fair and equitable not just for the staff concerned but also for council tax payers.

Mental Health

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are in place for the discharge of a person with a depressive illness from a psychiatric hospital to a care home and whether funding is available.

Lewis Macdonald: Decisions about discharging someone from NHS care and how their continuing care needs might best be met should be taken following an appropriate multi-disciplinary assessment of the patient’s health, social care and housing needs in consultation with the patient’s relatives and carers.

  The NHS will pay for care where someone meets the eligibility criteria for continuing NHS inpatient care outlined in NHS MEL (1996) 22 and if not eligible then the local authority also has a duty under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 to assess the needs of and arrange for the provision of appropriate services. Residents placed by local authorities would normally be liable to contribute to their care home fees although those with assets of under £19,500 would qualify for means-tested local authority funding. Those with higher capital may be eligible for free personal and nursing care support if they are aged 65 and over.

  Both NHS MEL (1996) 22 and the Framework for Mental Health Services in Scotland require that the individual is only discharged when an agreed care plan, support and accommodation are in place, available and properly resourced.

Mental Health

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the resources available for mental health services.

Lewis Macdonald: Spend on mental health services by NHS boards and local authorities will draw from the planned year-on-year increases in allocations to 2007-08. The annual allocation for health in 2007-08 will be over £10 billion and the Grant Aided Expenditure to local authorities for social work will have increased to £2.085 billion.

  Executive directed spend plans on mental health also show year-on-year increases from £37.4 million in 2005-06 to £38.8 million in 2007-08. This includes planned investment in delivery of the new Mental Health Act, the Tribunal, the Mental Health Specific Grant Scheme and the National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Well Being.

Ministerial Correspondence

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will reply to my letter of 15 August 2005 to the Minister for Transport and Telecommunications regarding my constituent, Mr S Robinson of Kininmonth.

Tavish Scott: I replied to your letter on 9 November 2005.

NHS Hospitals

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the net number of bed closures was in each NHS board in each year since 1999, broken down by bed type.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested is not available centrally.

NHS Hospitals

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a decision has been taken in respect of whether Glasgow Royal Infirmary or Hairmyres Hospital will no longer participate in the thoracic centre of excellence at the Golden Jubilee Hospital and, if so, what the reasons are for the decision.

Mr Andy Kerr: I understand that NHS Greater Glasgow and NHS Lanarkshire have concluded that cardiothoracic services should be transferred to the Golden Jubilee National Hospital. I expect to receive the proposals for my consideration and final decision in the near future.

NHS Staff

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when details of the tariff system for the NHS will be announced and what decisions have so far been taken on the matter.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive issued detailed guidance to NHS boards on 1 November 2005 regarding the implementation of tariffs to 2005-06 cross boundary flows between NHS boards, i.e. activity carried out by host NHS boards on behalf of patients who reside in other NHS boards areas in Scotland.

  The guidance explains that tariffs will be phased in from the current financial year, 2005-06, to a selection of specific procedures (cardiac surgery and orthopaedics). The range of procedures to which the tariff will apply will be increased progressively over the next two financial years until it covers all tariff-based cross boundary flows. The introduction of tariffs will create an incentive for efficiency by encouraging benchmarking between boards and improve the accuracy of financial data by ensuring better recording of both costing and activity data.

  NHS boards have been asked to agree financial flows for tariff based activity using the national tariff by the end of November 2005. Further guidance will be issued to NHS boards by the end of December regarding the increased application of tariffs for 2006-07.

  A Tariff Reference Group with representation from NHS boards, the Health Department, and the Information Services Division (ISD) of NHS National Services Scotland, has been set up to assist with developing the tariff and will continue to monitor progress on implementation and explore options for the further development of the tariff.

NHS Staff

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether service training in respect of allergies is in place for clinical staff within the NHS.

Mr Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-20043 on 2 November 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

NHS Staff

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with the private sector on signing up to the Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Healthcare Professionals.

Mr Andy Kerr: Health Department officials met recently with the independent health care forum on 22 September 2005. Colleagues from the private sector have confirmed that they will respond positively to the Code of Practice.

  An expert working group is currently considering a national model to support "supervised practice" for Internationally Qualified Nurses and will be reporting its recommendations to me shortly. This group includes representation from the independent health care sector such as the Care Commission and Care Scotland and several Higher Education Establishments who also engage with this sector. The Code of Practice and its underlying principles have been discussed and agreed with this group in terms of ethical and efficient recruitment practices and ensuring that active recruitment does not take place in developing countries.

NHS Staff

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many health care professionals from developing countries have been recruited by the NHS from private hospitals in each year since 1999, broken down by country of origin.

Mr Andy Kerr: The previous employer of any individual recruited into NHSScotland is not information that is held centrally.

  The only information held relates to medical staff recruited into NHSScotland detailing if their qualification was obtained outwith the European Economic Area (EEA) and this was broken down each year since 1999. This information has already been provided in the answer to question S2W-19952 on 2 November 2005.

  Most recent figures held by the Royal College of Nursing to September 2004 identified that almost 1,000 whole-time equivalent internationally qualified nurses from outwith the EEA were employed in Scotland’s health care system. This represents 2% of the national nursing workforce, 80% of whom are employed in the independent sector.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

NHS Staff

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many health care professionals originally from developing countries continued to work in the NHS after their temporary contracts ran out in each year since 1999.

Mr Andy Kerr: Information on the country of origin of health care professionals is not held centrally although data on country of qualification for medical and dental staff was already provided per year from 1999 in S2W-19952 answered on 2 November 2005. This data will be based on whole-time equivalents and not those staff on temporary contracts. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

  As part of the initial scoping exercise for monitoring compliance of the Code of Practice for international recruitment of health care professionals, data will be requested from NHSScotland boards on a quarterly basis commencing in December 2005 and will include recruitment of temporary professional health care workers from overseas.

  It is most likely that health care professionals from developing countries working in NHSScotland will have applied for positions personally and should be considered for employment if they are suitably qualified. It should also be noted that such individuals are at liberty to improve their position in society.

NHS Staff

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many health care recruitment agencies operating from (a) within and (b) outwith the United Kingdom are registered to comply with the Code of Practice for the International Recruitment of Healthcare Professionals.

Mr Andy Kerr: The list is open to any agency within the UK who can demonstrate that they adhere to the principles of the Code of Practice. There are currently 265 commercial recruitment agencies on the list, 225 of whom are based in the UK and 40 based in countries outside the UK.

NHS Staff

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the NHS has used health care recruitment agencies based outside the United Kingdom for the recruitment of health care professionals from developing countries since the Code of Practice for the International Recruitment of Healthcare Professionals was agreed.

Mr Andy Kerr: The list is open to any agency within the UK who can demonstrate that they adhere to the principles of the Code of Practice. There are currently 265 commercial recruitment agencies on the list, 225 of whom are based in the UK and 40 based in countries outside the UK.

  Other than recruitment of nurses from overseas, information on international recruitment by NHSScotland of other health care professional groups is not held centrally. It will be, however, be requested quarterly from NHSScotland boards as part of the Scottish Executive’s monitoring role on compliance of the Code of Practice.

  NHSScotland has not actively recruited any international nurses from developing countries and in the few instances it has recruited nurses from abroad, it has not used any recruitment agencies based outwith the UK.

NHS Staff

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many health care recruitment agencies which (a) have and (b) have not registered to comply with the Code of Practice for the International Recruitment of Healthcare Professionals have been used by the NHS since 1999 and on how many occasions in each case.

Mr Andy Kerr: This information is not held centrally in terms of all health care professional staff groups. It will be however be requested quarterly from NHSScotland boards as part of the Scottish Executive’s monitoring role on compliance of the Code of Practice.

  Targeted international recruitment of nurses by NHSScotland has been within ethical guidelines and has been kept to a minimum with less than 200 nurses actively recruited from abroad since 2002. Those recruitment agencies used had all registered to comply with the Code of Practice.

NHS Staff

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what provision there is to allow nurses from abroad resident in Scotland to retrain to be able to nurse in Scotland.

Mr Andy Kerr: Over the years, a number of programmes have been run locally by NHS health boards to provide internationally qualified nurses (IQN’s) with "supervised practice" programmes. This is the term used by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as the recommended period required for an IQN to train to be "fit for practice".

  The NMC have tightened standards for IQN’s across the health care sector to ensure that they are consistent, transparent and equitable. The new standards which came into force on 1 September 2005 are now known as the Overseas Nurses Programme (ONP) and will consist of a minimum of 20 days protected teaching time. Higher education institutions (HEI’s) will hold overall responsibility for these programmes. It will be compulsory for all international applicants and its core elements must be completed successfully before applicants will be registered with the NMC.

  Current timing is advantageous in setting up a structure for a national model and an expert working group was set up to review this. Recommendations from the IQN Working Group are currently being drafted for ministerial approval, outlining a national ONP model and infrastructure and support to match locally domiciled IQN’s to vacancy posts.

  Partnership representation on this group included the independent sector and HEI’s who engage across the health care sector.

Pensions

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty’s Government about the impact on the economy in the Highlands of the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s pensions proposals that could allow second homes to be bought as part of a self-invested personal pension.

Allan Wilson: The Executive has regular discussions with the UK Government on a range of issues.

  The changes to pension rules from April 2006 are a reserved matter for UK Government. Should there be any evidence of these changes having a negative impact, in the Highlands or anywhere else, the Executive will raise any concerns with the UK Government.

Pensions

Janis Hughes (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the Local Government Pension Scheme and what the outcome of these discussions has been.

Mr Tom McCabe: Policy responsibility for all occupational pensions issues is reserved.

  The UK Government’s proposals to reform the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) in England and Wales are being taken forward through a tripartite working group chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister and involving government, employers and trade unions.

  A similar tripartite group chaired by the Scottish Public Pension Agency, and involving COSLA and trade unions, is to discuss how the UK Government’s reforms are to be applied to the LGPS in Scotland.

Prescription Charges

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive further to the answer to question S2W-13449 by Mr Andy Kerr on 21 January 2005, when the public consultation phase of the Executive’s review of NHS prescription charge exemption policies will be completed and how the results of this will be published.

Lewis Macdonald: The literature review has been completed and consideration is now being given to the form the consultation should take. We are now working to a launch date in early 2006. As previously stated, the process will be fully inclusive and allow all interested parties to make their views known. The consultation period will last for at least three months with the results being published in accordance with the Scottish Executive Good Practice Guidance.

Prescription Charges

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-13449 by Mr Andy Kerr on 21 January 2005, when, following the completion of the public consultation phase of the Executive’s review of NHS prescription charge exemption policies, it will announce specific policy changes.

Lewis Macdonald: Any changes to policy will only be announced after the responses to the consultation have been received and fully considered by the Executive. At present it is not possible to predict the length of that consideration process.

Public Sector Staff

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-19596 by Mr Tom McCabe on 31 October 2005, whether it has information capable of being published on a basis consistent with the public sector employment statistics published for the first two quarters of 2005.

Mr Tom McCabe: Data for all areas of public sector employment is not available between 1997 and 1999 on a consistent basis with the data published on public sector employment by the Scottish Executive for the first two quarters of 2005.

  However, employment data is available prior to 1999 for some areas of the public sector in Scotland. These include the NHS in Scotland, local government and Civil Service (full-time equivalent only). It should be noted that data is not available for each quarter. This data can be found at the following websites:

  
NHS Scotland: www.show.scot.nhs.uk.
Local Government: www.scotland.gov.uk/publications.
Civil Service (full-time equivalent only): 
www.civilservice.gov.uk/management_of_the_civil_service/statistics/index.asp.

Public Sector Staff

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-19596 by Mr Tom McCabe on 31 October 2005, what its reasons are for having no plans to publish the public sector employment statistics from 1997 to 1999 on a basis consistent with those published for the first two quarters of 2005.

Mr Tom McCabe: Currently there are no plans to publish public sector employment statistics for 1997 and 1998 on a basis consistent with those published in the first two quarters of 2005. The reason is that data for some areas of public sector employment prior to 1999 is not available for quality reasons.

  However, employment data is available prior to 1999 for some areas of the public sector in Scotland. These include the NHS in Scotland, local government and Civil Service (full-time equivalent only). It should be noted that data is not available for each quarter. This data can be found at the following websites:

  
NHS Scotland: www.show.scot.nhs.uk.
Local Government: www.scotland.gov.uk/publications.
Civil Service (full-time equivalent only):
www.civilservice.gov.uk/management_of_the_civil_service/statistics/index.asp.

Roads

Mark Ballard (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive why it was decided that the Dalkeith Northern Bypass did not meet the criteria for environmental impact assessment (EIA) in 1992 under Schedule 2 to the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Regulations 1988 given the proximity of the route to an established Site of Special Scientific Interest and why, given the tightening of the EIA regime in 1999, the issue of whether the road should be subject to an EIA has not been reconsidered, in light of the recent decision to proceed with the construction of the bypass.

Tavish Scott: An Environmental Assessment for Dalkeith Northern Bypass was undertaken in 1992 but because the proposed road was greater than 100m from the boundary of the Site of Special Scientific Interest there was no statutory requirement to publish an Environmental Statement.

  The statutory procedures for Dalkeith Northern Bypass were completed in 1993 and substantial advance earthworks and ground consolidation works were undertaken in 1996.

  The agreement to proceed to procure the main roadworks does not require the procedures to be revoked. However, the Executive is updating earlier environmental work to take advantage of contemporary environmental practice and ensure that any changes that have taken place are fully taken into account in the final environmental design.

Roads

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive why the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route website still shows only the Murtle route through the Camphill communities on the front page, seven months after the consultation on five possible routes, and whether this gives website visitors the impression that Murtle is the chosen route.

Tavish Scott: While the website provides full details of all the routes under consideration I accept the outline plan on the front page could cause confusion. I have asked officials to update the website immediately.

Roads

Mark Ballard (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive why the Dalkeith northern bypass is now regarded as urgent and what evidence the Executive has that the current estimate of £40 million represents best value for taxpayers in terms of transport options for the area, given that the multi-modal appraisal promised by it following the strategic roads review in 1999 has never been carried out.

Tavish Scott: The Strategic Roads Review decision intended that a number of schemes, including the A68 Dalkeith Bypass, should be brought forward after the schemes approved for construction had been completed. That stage has now been reached.

  The Dalkeith bypass is being taken forward as part of a range of measures to improve accessibility to the Borders, including the promotion of a new rail link. The economic benefits of the bypass have been reassessed and continue to indicate a positive return on proposed investment.

Roads

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total value was of its road improvement contracts awarded to businesses with headquarters in Scotland; how many such contracts there were; what percentage these values and numbers represented of the total (a) value and (b) number of its road improvement contracts, and what the value was of each contract in each of the last three financial years.

Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive does not hold this information centrally and therefore could only provide this information at disproportionate cost.

Roads

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken, and what further steps will be taken, to ensure that contractors co-ordinate the timing of road works in areas of close proximity with a view to minimising the impact on local commuters.

Tavish Scott: Utility companies employing contractors to carry out work on their behalf have a duty to give advance notice of non-emergency works to the roads authority. The roads authority then has a duty to ensure that works are co-ordinated. Roads authorities have powers to give directions as to the timing of such works.

  The Transport (Scotland) Act 2005 will improve co-ordination through the statutory provision of notices for all proposed works. Both roads authorities and utility companies will be required to place notices on the Scottish Road Works Register. Increased powers of direction for roads authorities as to the timing of works, placing of apparatus and restrictions following substantial road works will also help minimise the impact on commuters.

Smoking

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the legislation to ban smoking in enclosed public spaces will apply to the terraces within football stadia.

Mr Andy Kerr: Where football terraces or stadia are wholly or substantially enclosed within the meaning of the Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005, they will be no smoking premises for the purposes of part 1 of that act by virtue of Schedule 1 to the draft Prohibition of Smoking in Certain Premises (Scotland) Regulations 2006.

Supermarkets

Chris Ballance (South of Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many successful planning applications for large-scale supermarket developments there have been since 1999 and how many small-scale local economic outlets have closed in the same period.

Johann Lamont: In the five years from 1999 to 2003, 67 planning approvals were given for the erection or extension of large-scale supermarkets in Scotland. No comparable information is available concerning the closure of small-scale outlets.

Tourism

Alex Fergusson (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is in respect of the accumulated loss of £5.6 million declared in e-tourism Ltd’s published accounts to December 2004.

Patricia Ferguson: The global tourism market is rapidly increasing its propensity to use the internet to make holiday bookings online and often at the last minute. visitscotland.com is designed to attract an increasing share of these bookings, with over £40 million worth of business generated, much of it for small hotels and B&Bs, since its inception.

  Visitscotland.com is the trading name of e-tourism Ltd, a joint venture with the private sector in which VisitScotland has a 25% stake. It is an increasingly effective shop window for Scotland, promoting a wide variety of Scottish tourism products and events to the global market. The visitscotland.com business plan always anticipated that it would run at a loss for the first few years, as is the case for many new businesses, especially new dotcom ventures. The management of visitscotland.com remain confident that it is on track to break even in the next two years and achieve profitability thereafter.

Waste Management

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with provisions for small waste oil burners under the EU Waste Incineration Directive.

Rhona Brankin: I am satisfied that our approach to regulating small waste oil burners fulfils the Executive’s legal obligations under the Waste Incineration Directive. One of the aims of this Directive is to help protect human health and the environment from the impacts of burning waste oil.